OREANDA-NEWS. Jaguar confirmed that it will bring an all-new, mid-size sports sedan to production, the Jaguar XE.

Speaking at the Geneva Auto Show, Dr Ralf Speth, chief executive officer, Jaguar Land Rover, confirmed: “We announced just a few weeks ago that our new engine manufacturing centre would produce a new family of premium, lightweight, low-friction, low-emission, four-cylinder petrol and diesel units. The first of our Ingenium engine range will be used in our all-new, mid-sized Jaguar sports sedan. That car will be called the Jaguar XE, and it will be unveiled in production form later this year.”

The XE will be the first product from the new, advanced, aluminium architecture which was showcased in the C-X17 concept car in 2013. Its global rollout will begin in 2015, and it will be the first aluminium monocoque vehicle in the segment. It brings customers all the benefits of aluminium: lightness and stiffness for unbeatable handling, performance, refinement and efficiency. The new engine and aluminium chassis complement each other perfectly.

Power will be provided by engines with a wide range of capacities and output, all delivering inspirational performance and offering the latest innovations in fuel-efficient technologies, without sacrificing drivability.

Utilising the most flexible engine architecture ever produced by Jaguar Land Rover, with an advanced design configured to suit in-line and transverse installations for rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations, the new engines will be both efficient and powerful - including top speeds of over 300km/h (186mph), and emissions lower than 100g of CO2 per km.

Kevin Stride, Jaguar”s vehicle line director for XE, said: “The engineering development of the XE has focused on delivering customers with the most advanced, efficient and refined sports sedan in its class. We are excited about our progress to date and are looking forward to soon being able to demonstrate what we have achieved.”

Ian Callum, director of design, said: “The new Jaguar XE is every bit a modern Jaguar; more compact in size but visually striking. Customers will expect a great deal from a mid-size Jaguar - it must be practical but premium. We never forget we are designing a Jaguar and that means it must be as exciting to look at and drive as it is brilliant to run and practical to own. We believe we've done just that with the Jaguar XE.”

The name of the Jaguar XE follows a logical progression, positioned alongside the XF and XJ saloons in the range. Full XE technical and range details will be announced later in 2014. The global roll-out will begin from mid-2015.